Power Your Home With Your EV: Orr Lighting & Electric’s Guide to Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) Systems

Electric vehicles are more than just a way to get from point A to point B—they can now serve as backup power plants for your home. Imagine your car keeping the lights on, running the fridge, or even powering your entire house during a storm-related outage. At Orr Lighting & Electric, we specialize in whole-home electrical solutions, and V2H (Vehicle-to-Home) technology is one of the most exciting new frontiers in energy independence.

What Is V2H?

Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) is the technology that allows your EV’s battery to safely supply electricity back into your house during an outage. Modern EVs carry anywhere from 60 to 200+ kWh of stored energy—enough to power a home for days.

Unlike plugging into a generator, V2H requires specialized equipment: a bidirectional charger and a transfer switch/gateway that isolates your home from the grid. These systems automatically detect an outage, disconnect you from utility lines (so crews can safely repair them), and let your EV power your critical loads or even your entire home.

Which EVs Support V2H in the U.S.?

As of today, here are the fully supported V2H vehicles available in the U.S.:

• Ford F-150 Lightning – with Ford’s Charge Station Pro and Home Integration System (Sunrun).

• Tesla Cybertruck – using the Powershare Gateway and Universal Wall Connector.

• GM Ultium models – including the Silverado EV, Blazer EV, Equinox EV, GMC Sierra EV Denali, and Cadillac LYRIQ, with GM’s PowerShift Charger + V2H Enablement Kit.

• Kia EV9 – with the Wallbox Quasar 2 bidirectional charger and Power Recovery Unit (PRU).

Each of these vehicles has a factory-approved hardware path to deliver safe, reliable home backup.

The Hardware That Makes It Work

Here’s a quick look at the systems behind each brand:

Ford F-150 Lightning

• Charge Station Pro (80A bidirectional charger)

• Home Integration System (HIS) – includes inverter + automatic transfer switch

Tesla Cybertruck

• Powershare Gateway – acts as the automatic transfer switch

• Universal Wall Connector – interfaces with the Cybertruck

GM Ultium (Chevy/GMC/Cadillac EVs)

• PowerShift Charger

• V2H Enablement Kit, which includes:

  
  

  • Home Hub (transfer/islanding switch)

  • Inverter

  • Dark-start battery (boots the system during an outage)

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Kia EV9

• Wallbox Quasar 2 (CCS bidirectional charger)

• Power Recovery Unit (PRU) – automatic transfer/islanding

Why V2H Makes Sense for Homeowners

• Resilience: Storm knocks out the grid? Your EV battery can step in instantly.

• Cost Savings: Offset peak utility rates by using EV power when electricity is most expensive.

• Sustainability: Pair your EV + V2H with solar, and you’ve created a powerful home microgrid.

• Silent Backup: Unlike generators, EVs are quiet, clean, and don’t require fuel deliveries.

Orr Lighting & Electric: Your Local V2H Experts

We’ve been serving Woodstock, Saugerties, Kingston, and the greater Ulster County area for over 20 years. As EV adoption accelerates, we’re here to:

• Design & Install V2H systems that fit your home’s service size (200A, 320A, etc.).

• Integrate with Existing Systems such as generators or solar arrays.

• Handle Permitting & Utility Approvals with Central Hudson and your local AHJ.

• Provide Expert Maintenance so your system is always ready when you need it.

Ready to Power Your Home With Your EV?

If you’re buying (or already own) a Ford Lightning, Tesla Cybertruck, GM Ultium EV, or Kia EV9, now is the time to add home backup integration. At Orr Lighting & Electric, we’ll walk you through every step—from hardware selection to final inspection.

👉 Let’s work together. Contact us today to explore a V2H installation for your home.

Pro Tip from the Pros

Every V2H system requires precise electrical design—breaker sizing, conductor routing, and safe interlocks with your service. Don’t trust this to trial and error. Partner with licensed electricians who know both the 2023 NEC and the latest EV technologies. That’s where we come in.